On the Forgotten Enslavement of Native Americans and Its Central Role in US History

On a sun-drenched day in June 2018, a woman in traditional Native regalia dropped a large wreath of flowers into the Atlantic Ocean. The impact jostled loose a few petals before the circle of blossoms slowly drifted away on the

Résumé

Native enslavement history

The article highlights the overlooked history of Native American enslavement in the United States, which predates and overlaps with the transatlantic slave trade.

This enslavement was not limited to a single region or time period but occurred across the Americas from the late 15th century onward, as European colonizers arrived.

Native Americans were forcibly taken from their communities and subjected to labor, often under brutal conditions, to work in mines, plantations, or as domestic servants.

Unlike the transatlantic slave trade, which primarily involved Africans, this system exploited Indigenous populations, disrupting their societies and economies.

The practice was widespread, affecting tribes such as the Taino in the Caribbean, the Pueblo in the Southwest, and the Cherokee in the Southeast.

The article notes that this enslavement was a central feature of colonial economies, particularly in regions where Indigenous labor was abundant and European settlers sought to extract resources like gold, silver, and agricultural products.